The Palestine Chronology

Two IDF jeeps are ambushed separately in Gaza Strip and West Bank, killing 2 soldiers. IDF shoots 2 dead, wounds 20 Palestinians in Khan Yunis. IDF destroys up to 20 houses in Dayr al-Balah camp. (Qol Yisra'el 3/21 in FBIS 3/22; MM 3/22; MM, WT 3/23; MM 3/30)

Joint Amal-Hizballah unit attacks Israeli, SLA positions in "security zone." Israel shells targets north of zone. (VOM, VOL 3/20 in FBIS 3/22)

PM Rabin meets with UN Secy.-Gen. Butrus-Ghali in New York. (MM 3/17)

Gunfire erupts near Palestinian negotiator Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi in Rafah, Gaza, killing 52-year-old schoolteacher within 10 feet of him. IDF and Israeli TV says PFLP gunmen tried to shoot the delegate (PFLP denies); 'Abd al-Shafi says bullets came from IDF firing on stonethrowers. IDF kills 1, wounds over 50 Palestinians in Khan Yunis. (Qol Yisra'el 3/18, 3/19 in FBIS 3/19; MM, NYT 3/18, 3/19)

Hamas spokesman in Amman Ibrahim Ghawshah announces the group will escalate attacks in the West Bank to make conditions there similar to Gaza, to force Israel to withdraw. (MM 3/18)

Last Friday of Ramadan passes peacefully in Jerusalem, where over 200,000 Palestinians prayed at al-Aqsa Mosque, watched over by scores of Israeli police. (MM 3/19)

Joint PFLP-Fateh unit attacks Israeli, SLA forces in "security zone." (VOL 3/19 in FBIS 3/22)

Faisal Husseini and 40 delegation associates visit area in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, where homes were leveled by IDF 2/11 to offer sympathy, rally support for negotiations. Hamas and PLO supporters chant allegiance. (MM 2/17)

Pres. Mubarak meets with Chmn. Arafat in Cairo. (WT 2/20; MENA 2/17 in FBIS 2/17)

Israeli Aircraft Industries announces U.S. Def. Dept. has awarded them and American co. TRW a $240m contract to build 56 unmanned airplanes. Sen. Daniel Inouye (DHI) announces U.S. has budgeted $57m to improve Haifa port, which will serve as U.S. Navy's major regional anchorage. But as chmn. of Senate def. appropriations subcomm., he tells Israeli officials that they should prepare for a possible cut in U.S. foreign aid. (MM 2/17; WT 2/18)

Jordan appoints Shaykh Sulayman al-Jabari Mufti of Jerusalem. (MM 2/19)

Israeli justice min. announces that Shin Bet agent in charge when Mustafa 'Akkawi died under 2/4/92 interrogation has been disciplined. (WT 2/18)

IDF shoots 2 Palestinian youths dead in West Bank; another shot dead, while fleeing, 10 minutes after curfew, in Gaza City. (NYT 2/19)

Hizballah and Israeli, SLA forces engage in largest artillery battle of the year, killing 3 Islamic fighters, 2 other Lebanese. Israel shells up to 30 villages, including Nabatiyya. (MM, NYT 2/18)